VET News

The Message is Clear: You Should Be Earning or You Should Be Learning

The Morrison Government’s jobs plan is firing into the new financial year with a number of measures coming into force to help protect jobs and connect Australians with jobs as well as measures to support businesses in putting more Australians on the books.

It will now also be easier to access foundation skills training for Australians with low levels of language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy skills. The number of available places in the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program has been uncapped and eligibility has been extended to all job seekers, regardless of whether they are on income support.

There will also be further regulatory relief for higher education and vocational education and training providers with waivers of regulatory fees and charges being extended until the end of 2021.

Additionally, the National Skills Commission has released the national Skills Priority List.  This provides a single source of advice on occupations that are in shortage and their expected future demand.

Including nearly 800 occupations the Skills Priority List aims to help governments, industry and education providers understand Australia's skills needs and shortages now and into the future.

Today, over 150 occupations face current skill shortages nationally, most commonly for Technicians and Trades Workers occupations, followed by Professionals, Machinery Operators and Drivers, Managers, as well as Community and Personal Service Workers.

Minister Robert, said ‘The Skills Priority List provides a vital and honest picture of where Australia is at when it comes to skills and it will be used to help steer our ongoing national leadership in securing Australia’s workforce.  It is encouraging to see more Australians in work today than before the pandemic and while it is clear the economy is facing workforce challenges there are still over one million Australians on a primary welfare payment—we need to help these Australians get into jobs or get into training.'.

‘Our approach is straightforward." said Minister Robert. "You should be earning or you should be learning.’ 

Access the Skills Priority List and details of the Government's new financial incentives via the links below:

• Skills Priority List - National Skills Commission
• National leadership on Australia's labour force anchored by new Skills Priority List - Minister's Media Centre Release
• Jobs Plan Fires Into New Financial Year - Minister's Media Centre Release

Date posted Jul 8, 2021